Exogenous nitric oxide can help desert plants cope with salt stress by improving their photosynthetic abilities. By spraying sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on Peganum multisectum seedlings, researchers found that the nitric oxide treatment increased photosynthetic pigment content and gas exchange rates, while decreasing damage to the photosynthetic system caused by salt stress. The nitric oxide also boosted the efficiency of the plants' photosynthetic processes and helped protect them from photoinhibition. Overall, nitric oxide can enhance the photosynthetic performance of desert plants under stressful conditions.